NFL Fines Three Head Coaches $250,000 Each Over Conduct Toward Officials, Report Says

Getting angry with officials can cost coaches on the field — and off it, too. The NFL has fined New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel, New York Jets coach Aaron Glenn and Philadelphia Eagles coach Nick Sirianni $250,000 each for their conduct toward officials, according to a Sports Illustrated report.

The fines are being held in abeyance, the report says, meaning they could be waived if the coaches demonstrate good behaviour. It is unclear whether the fines stemmed from specific incidents or from a pattern of conduct by the coaches.

In Vrabel's case, one recent incident is known. In Week 4, the Patriots coach was flagged after expressing his displeasure with an official's call. After the game, Vrabel said he had told the official the call was terrible, adding that he had said it 87 times since becoming a head coach, that it was nothing derogatory, and that he thought the official had been a little sensitive.

Officials have also made headlines this season. The NFL disciplined two officials for their conduct in Week 5: line judge Jeff Seeman was fined for apparently cursing at Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride.

Referee Adrian Hill, meanwhile, was suspended for one game for unprofessional conduct toward Minnesota Vikings linebacker Eric Wilson. Wilson was pushed into Hill by a Miami Dolphins player after the play was blown dead, knocking the referee to the ground. When Wilson offered to help him up, the referee jumped to his feet, pointed at Wilson and yelled at him to get away.

Wilson later told reporters the episode was “funny, honestly”, saying he ended up apologising and explaining the situation, and that Hill understood and said he had only been trying to stop Wilson and Dolphins running back Ollie Gordon II from fighting. Former NFL quarterback Sean Salisbury has argued that officials should answer questions immediately after games, be held accountable for obvious mistakes and stop escalating confrontations with players.

By fining three prominent head coaches such large sums at once, the NFL has signalled it hopes to prevent further incidents involving coaches and officials from becoming distractions for the remainder of the season. With the penalties held in abeyance, the question now is whether the three coaches can earn a full waiver through good behaviour on the sideline.